Nerve · Pelvis

Inferior rectal nerve

Nervi rectales inferiores

The pudendal nerve's first branch, given off as the parent nerve enters the pudendal canal. It crosses the ischiorectal fossa — the fat-filled wedge beside the anal canal — running medially with the inferior rectal vessels, and supplies the external anal sphincter along with the skin around the anus and the lining of the anal canal below the pectinate line. It is the reason that voluntary control of the anus and sensation of the skin around it come from the same nerve: continence depends on knowing what is arriving as much as on being able to hold it.